Flushing-valve



C. H. PHILLIPS.

FLUSHING VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1919.

Patented Aug 23, 1921.

1 1 v// J 9 0 i 4 w 4 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. PHILLIPS, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PHILLIPS FLUSI-IING TANK COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FLUSHING-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 23, 1919. Serial No. 299,173.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States, residing-at ll'iaplewood, ll/laldcn, in the county of M d- (llGSGX and State of h lassachusetts, have 111- vcntcd certain new and useful Improvements in. Flushing-Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to maize and use the same.

The present invention relates to an 1111- proved flushing valve for water closets.

Une object of the invention. is to reorganizc l simplify the construction and an rangement of the parts of a water closet flushing valve in order to produce a more simplefefiicient and durable flushing valve than has yet been produced. Another ob ect of the invention is to provide an improved flushing valve in which there is an inlet connected to a supply of water under pressure, an outlet connected with the bowl, a valve for controlling the flow of water from the inlet to the outlet and valve opening and closing mechanism arranged so that the valve will. automatically close even if the operation of the valve opening mechanism is continued.

The invention consists in the flushing valve hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims. In the drmving which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved flushing valve, and Fig. 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the starting handle, main valve and associated parts.

The flushing valve comprises a casing 5 which is in. general of cylindrical form and of which the flange 6 communicates with an inlet chamber 7 Threaded into the outer end of the flange 6 is a pipe 8 connected with a supply of water under pressure. An outlet chamber 9 is formed in the lower part of the flushing valve casing 5 and the walls thereof are extended upwardly to form the valve seat 12 of the main valve 18. It is to be ohser ved that the water entering from the inlet chamber 7 almost entirely surrounds the valve seat 12 so that when the main valve 18 is unseated a maximum amount of water passes immediately into the outlet chamber 9 to perform the desired flushing operation. The outlet chamber 9 discharges through a discharge pipe 14.- connected with the bowl.

it threaded coupling 15 holds the discharge pipe against the lower open end of the easing 5 and an annular gasket is interposed to make a tight joint. 6

The main valve 18 comprises a cup shaped metal piston 19, a washer 20 placed in the cup of the piston 19 and held outwardly in an operative position against the walls of the main valve chamber 21 by follower 22, spring 23 and cap 24 which is screwed onto the threaded stem 25 of the piston 19, so that as the main valve 18 moves up and down in the main valve chamber 21, a water tight ]Oi11t is maintained between it and the walls of the chamber. 1

The interior of the metal piston 19 is hollow, and a nut 26 is screwed upon the lower portion thereof and holds a seat washer 27 in an annular groove 28 upon the underside of the piston 19. When the main valve 18 is in its closed position as shown in Fig. 2 the pin 29 depending from the bottom thereof, extends through a tapered eye 60, carried by and extended downwardly from an operating shaft 61, which is extended laterally outwardly through the walls of the casing 5, and upon which an operating handle 63 is secured by a set screw 64, which is screwed into the end of the shaft 61 and frictionally engages a portion of the handle 63. A nut 66 embraces the operating shaft 61 and. is screwed into the wall of the casing 5 and forms a bearing in which the operating shaft 61 turns. spring 67 yieldingly holds the handle and shaft outwardly, and also serves to return the handle to its initial position after it has been depressed and a leather washer 69 maintains a tight joint between the shaft 61 and the nut 66.

The diameter of the nut 26 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the valve seat 12 so that the usual refill of the bowl may follow the flushing operation and when the valve is closed the seat washer 27 rests upon the valve seat 12 and maintains a water tight joint. The stem 25 of the metal piston 19 is guided in its movements by a cylindrical guide 30 depending from a spider 31, seated in a recess 32 in the upper end of the valve casing 5. A cap 33, and gasket 34 form a water tight closure for the upper end of the casing.

The by-pass 38 is inclosed between the adjacent wall 17 of the casing 5 and an exterior cylindrical wall 39 built out laterally from the valve casing. The wall 39 has a lateral extension 40, in the lower end of which is formed the inlet 41 for the by-pass 38. This by-pass inlet 41 constitutes a valve chamber for a ball valve 42. The valve chamber 41 is formed as a taperingly reamed hole in a bushing 43 pressed in a hole in the web 44 which separates the by-pass 38 from the inlet chamber. The upper end of the tapered hole in the bushing 43' is of less diameter than the ball valve 42, and the lower end of the tapered hole is of larger diameter than the ball. When the ball has been inserted in its chamber, the lower end of the bushing is turned inwardly, as at 46, to hold the ball in place. In the extension 40 above the bushing 43 is threaded an adjustment or regulating screw 47 for determining the height to which the ball valve may rise. The size of the opening between the ball and the upper end of the tapered hole of the bushing is thereby adjusted and consequently the rate at which the water is permitted to flow past the ball is regulated. The lower end of the regulating screw 47 is provided with a recess 48 for the purpose of centering or steadying the ball valve in its chamber when the ball rises to permit the water to flow past it into the bypass and thence to the main valve chamber. This centering or steadying of the ball valve prevents it from chattering against the sides of its chamber. The open upper end of the extension 40 is closed by a cap-screw 49. The construction of the by-pa'ss ball valve 42'and its. associated parts, and the mode of operation ofthe ball valve, are such, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, that it is automatically self-'clearin Each time the flushing valve is operate the ball valve rises, and after a predetermined length of time falls again into its normal position. It will be recognized that this rising and fallin of the ball valve must necessarily permit the flow of water past the valve to free it from any accumulation of sediment or rust.

The pressure of the water in the main valve chamber 20 against the upper side of the main valve is reduced to less than the pressure on the under side of the main valve, when it is'desired that the flushing valve be operated by the manipulation of an operating valve 50 located in a chamber 51 forming the lower end of an outlet passage 52, through which the water in the main valve chamber is discharged when the flushing valve is to be operated. This passage 52 communicates at its upper end with the upper part of the main valve chamber, and at its lower end with the outlet chamber 9. The

operating valve 50 is of disk form and is pro- I vided with a seat washer 55 to engage the valve seat 56 surroundingthe passageway 57 which connects the outlet chamber with I the operating valve chamber 51. The operating valve 50 is fixedon a valve stem 59 which is of greater diameter than the pin 29 so that when the main valve 18 is in a closed position the pin 29 loosely extends therethrough and is positioned by the eye 60 so as to engage the end of the extension of the stem 59 of the operating valve 50. When the operating handle 63 is depressed the lower edge of the eye 60 forces the lower end of the pin 29 against the stem 59 and in this way opens the operating valve 50 permitting water to flow from the top of the main valve chamber 21 above the main valve 18, through the outlet by-pass 52 and into the outlet chamber 9.

lVhen the pressure of the water above the main valve starts to decrease in this manner the pressure of the water against the under side thereof causes the main valve to rise, thereby uncovering the valve seat and permitting water to flow directly from the inlet into the outlet to perform the flushing operation.

It will be observed that after the operating valve 50 is opened the main valve 18 starts to rise, thereby lifting the pin 29 upwardly but not out of the eye 60. After the main valve has traveled upwardly a certain distanee, the pin 29 is disengaged from the end of the stem.59 of the operating valve 50, thereby permitting the valve 50 to immediately close. As the main valve closes the swivel joint between the pin 29 and the nut 26 enables the pin to adjust itself and to pass down through the eye 60. If for any reason the end of the pin 29 should strike the top of the eye 60 the valve will still close because the pin 29 may move upwardly into the interior of the piston 19.

The length of time the main valve 18 remains open, and likewise the duration of the flushing operation depends on the rate of flow or the water through the by-pass 38 and ball valve 42 after the operating valve 50 closes.

It will be observed that even if the handle 63 is continuously held down the flushing operation is automatically brought to a close after the main valve has performed its definite cycle of operations. By regulating the rate of flow of the water through the ball valve 42 and by-pass 38, the duration of the flushing operation is rendered independent of the length of time the operating handle is held down thereby preventing undue waste of water.

I claim- 1. A flushing valve having, in combination, a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet, a main valve controlling the flow of water from the inlet to the outlet, a valve chamber above the main valve, a by-pass in the wall of the casing leading from the valve chamber to the outlet, an operating valve in said by-pass, a second by-pass from the inlet to the main valve chamber and a device carried by the main valve adapted to be moved against the operating valve to cause it to open and adapted to permit it to close after the main valve has opened.

2. A flushing valve having, in combination, a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet, a main valve controlling the flow of water from the inlet to the outlet, a valve chamber above the main valve, a by-pass in the wall of the casing leading from the valve chamber to the outlet, an operating valve in said by-pass, a second by-pass from the inlet to the main valve chamber, a device carried by the main valve adapted to be moved to cause the operating valve to open, actuating means for moving said device to cause the operating valve to open and to thereby cause the main valve to open, said device having provision whereby the main valve is permitted to close independently of the continued operation of the actuating means.

3. A flushing valve having, in combination, a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet, a main valve controlling the flow of water from the inlet to the outlet, a valve chamber above the main valve, a by-pass in the wall of the casing leading from the valve chamber to the outlet, an. operating valve in said by-pass, a second by-pass from the inlet to the main valve chamber, and a device carried by the main valve adapted to be moved against the operating valve to open it, and adapted to permit the operating valve to close after the main valve has opened and actuating means for moving said device against the operating valve, said device having provision whereby the main valve is permitted to close independently of continued operation of said actuating means.

4. A flushing valve having, in combination a casing, an inlet connected with a supply of water under pressure, an outlet communicating with the bowl, a main valve chamber, a main valve in the chamber arranged to control the flow of water from the inlet to the outlet, a passage leading from the inlet to the outlet, a bypass leading from the inlet to the main valve chamber above the main valve, an adjustable ball valve in the by-pass to regulate the flow of water to the main valve chamber, an outlet bypass in the casing wall leading from the valve chamber above the main valve to the outlet, a spring closed operating valve in the outlet by-pass, and means for opening the operating valve constructed and arranged to permit the same to close when the main valve has opened a certain amount.

5. A flushing valve having, in combination a casing, an inlet connected with a supply of water under pressure, an outlet communicating with the inlet and with the bowl, a main valve chamber, a main valve in said chamber adapted to control. the passsa e of water from the inlet to the outlet, a y-pass from the inlet to the main valve chamber, an outlet lay-pass in the casing wall, a spring closed operating valve in the outlet by-pass, a handle on the exterior of the valve, connections between the handle and the operating valve whereby the latter is opened to cause the main valve to open and thereafter permitted to close when the main valve has opened a certain amount.

6. A flushing valve having, in combination, a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet, a main valve controlling the flow of water from the inlet to the outlet, a valve chamber above the main valve, a by-pass from the valve chamber to the outlet, an operating valve in said by-pass, a second by pass from the inlet to the main alve chamber, a pin carried by the main valve and capable of movement relative thereto, an operating shaft extending to without the casing, connections between the operating shaft and pin for moving the pin against the operating valve to cause it to open and for permitting it to close after the main valve has opened, said pin and main valve having provision whereby the main valve is permitted to close independently of the continued operation of the operating shaft.

7. A flushing valve having, in combination, an inlet connected with a supply of water under pressure, an outlet communicating with the bowl, a main valve chamber, a mainvalve controlling the passage of water from the inlet to the outlet, a by-pass leading from the inlet to the top of the main valve chamber, a second by-pass leading from the top of the main valve chamber to the outlet, a spring closed operating valve in the second by-pass, means for operating said operating valve including an operating shaft, a downwardly projecting eye carried thereby, a pin carried by the main valve and extended downwardly through the eye when the main valve is closed to permit the pin to open the operating valve and to be raised out of engagement with the operating valve when the main valve is opened to permit the operating valve to close after the main valve has opened a certain amount.

8. A flushing valve having, in combination, an inlet connected with a supply of water under pressure, an outlet communieating with the bowl, a main valve controlling the passage of water from the inlet to the outlet, having a depending pin swivelly mounted therein and capable of movement into a recess within the valve to permit movement of the valve with relation to the pin, means for supplying Water above the main valve, a by-pass for permitting water to flow from above the main valve into the outlet to cause the valve to open, an operating valve in said by-pass and means arranged to force the pin against the operating valve to open the same and to hold it open until the pin isthrown forward out of engagement therewith, and means for closing the operating valve at this time.

9. A flushing valve having, in combination, an inlet, an outlet, a main valve normally closing the outlet, a by-pass leading from above the main valve to the outlet, an operating valve in said by-pass, a second by-pass leading from the inlet to above the main valve, and a ball valve in said second by-pass adapted to restrict the flow of. water tnerethrough and to cause the ball to be completely inclosed within a body of Water at each operation of the valve and having provision whereby it may be adjusted from the exterior of the flushing valve to regulate the flow of water by the ball. 7

10. A flushing valve having, in combination, an inlet, an outlet, a main valve normally closing the outlet, a by-pass leading from above the main valve to the outlet, an operating valve in: said by-pass, a second by-pass leading from the inlet to above the main valve, and a ball valve in said second by-pass, said ball valve being arranged so that it is completely inclosed in a body of water at each operation of the valve, and having provision whereby it is prevented from chattering.

11. A flushing valve having, in combination, an inlet, an outlet, a main valve normally closing the outlet, a by-pass leading from above the main valve to the outlet, an operatin valve in said by-pass, a second by-pass leading from the inlet to above the main valve, and a ball valve in said second by-pass, said ball valve being provided with a tapered bushing, and means for steadying the ball within said bushing to prevent it from chattering during the operation of the flushing valve.

CHARLES H. PHILLIPS. 

